A notary public may not refuse to notarize a document based on which of the following?

• A. Race
• B. The document's length
• C. The signer's occupation
• D. The time of day

Answer: (A)

Notaries must perform notarizations impartially for every signer who properly identifies themselves and complies with the requirements. Discrimination based on race is not allowed and has no bearing on whether you can notarize a document. The notary’s job is to verify identity, witness the signing, and ensure the signer understands the instrument, not to judge or refuse based on protected characteristics.

The length of the document, the signer's occupation, or the time of day do not justify refusal, provided the signer can be identified, the signer appears before the notary, and the document is complete and proper. Legitimate reasons to refuse include issues like lack of acceptable identification, the signer not appearing, or evident fraud or illegality.